Softball to Play at UT-Martin on Wednesday

Wednesday, March 29

Martin, Tenn.

4:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

UT Martin

3/28/2017 12:00:00 PM | Softball

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Middle Tennessee softball team goes on the road for another midweek nonconference matchup this week. The Raiders travel to Martin, Tenn. for a single game with UT-Martin at 4pm.

The teams are familiar foes with the Raiders holding a 27-13-1 all-time record over the Skyhawks. The two sides last met for a doubleheader in the 2015 season in Murfreesboro with each team winning one.

MT won the second game of the doubleheader, 6-2. The Raiders came in clutch with timely hitting and excellent defense that recorded zero errors, while four of the six runs in the game came with two outs. Current Raiders, Austyn Whaley and Lauren Riddell each recorded RBI in the game while Precious Birdsong scored two runs and stole a base.

Middle (10-17, 1-8 C-USA) enters this season's contest in the midst of a five-game skid after being swept at home by (RV) FIU last weekend. The series contained close games with the Panthers narrowly pulling out a win in each one by scores of 3-0, 2-1 and 3-0.

Kristin Uselton and Morgan Harris each went 3-for-8 on the weekend. Uselton recorded a hit in all three games as well as recording the lone RBI of the weekend off a double. Harris also notched two stolen bases in the series while Keely McGee scored the Raiders only run.

In the circle, Cori Jennings threw two complete games with 11 strikeouts despite taking two losses. She held one of the league's most powerful offenses to just four earned runs and helped leave 22 FIU players stranded on base.

The Raider defense showed up big to help plug up the Panther offense as well. MT had two double plays in the series, one of which included a play at the plate. Birdsong caught a fly ball in left center and fired the ball to Harris behind the plate to get the runner who tagged up at third base. Samantha Vacko pulled off the other double play at second base later in the same game.

The Skyhawks come into the game with an impressive 23-8, 3-1 OVC record. UTM opened conference play last weekend going 1-1 with Jacksonville State but taking two from Tennessee Tech by scores of 6-5 and 10-2.

Seven Skyhawks have a batting average over .300 on the year paced by Jodie Duncan who is hitting .379. She has 22 RBI, six doubles and three home runs so far this season. Rachel Williams leads UTM in RBI with 27 to go with seven doubles, a triple and a home run. Renate Meckl leads the team in doubles with nine and home runs with four.

Two Skyhawks have eclipsed 20 stolen bases on the season. Carly Gonzales leads the team with 28 in 31 attempts while Savannah Dodson has recorded 21.

Brooke Kennedy and Sara Hooten have seen the majority of the time in the circle for the Skyhawks with 75 and 62.2 innings, respectively. Kennedy boasts a 10-2 record and 2.99 ERA with a team-leading 58 strikeouts while Hooten is 6-3 with 50 strikeouts and a 3.02 ERA.

Live stats will be available for the contest, here. Live video will be available, here. Live audio will be available, here.